Page 11 of Tango (Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue #4)

My hope though is that Tucker Hunt is everything I think he is and will be able to help me uncover the truth. Unless, of course, I’m killed first.

Which is an unfortunate possibility since I already know they’re clearly willing to kill to keep everything quiet.

The trouble is, I don’t know what they’re trying to keep quiet—yet.

Ramiro and I were trying to figure that out when they caught us in the server room.

And I’m not entirely sure how I’m supposed to get into the building and actually access the information without getting myself killed.

Unfortunately, every answer I need is accessible only from Web Safe’s internal servers. While the clients provide us with digital access to their databases, all delicate information is then shielded behind firewalls that can only be lowered by the computer in the server room.

I’m running a scan on the information not sensitive enough to be kept offline, but I’m not hopeful I’ll find anything. Because Ramiro was insistent that we had to be in the server room to install the patch. Meaning whatever we’re looking for is there and only there.

My inbox dings.

404Wonder,

MadCode, huh? Cute. I always did connect with the Hatter.

As for the wallpaper, I thought so too. Rabbit holes and all. I stuck by my word. Question is, will you? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

- MC

I consider his message then prep to type out my response. But just as I’m ready to start, someone knocks on the door.

Oh no. Not now.

Heart in my throat, I retrieve the firearm I pilfered from my parents’ safe when I’d gone back for their car and silently push to my feet.

The blinds are closed, curtains over the front windows too, so no one can see inside.

But that doesn’t mean I have any advantage.

If it’s Web Safe, they won’t wait for me to answer.

Slowly, I creep forward toward the door, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Maybe it’s just a lost hiker? Someone who strayed too far from the trail?

There were times when I stayed here with my parents, when hikers thought we were a ranger station of some kind.

I stretch up on my tiptoes, momentarily hating how short I am, then peer out through the peephole.

No way.

Glancing over at my computer for a moment, I note a new email has come through.

OPEN ME.

I grin. This guy might be just what I’m looking for. Keeping my weapon in hand just in case, I unlock the door and pull it open to find an incredibly handsome Tucker Hunt standing on the other side, grinning in victory since he managed to track me down.

“Hey there, Wonder. Guess you’re no longer a 404 code.”

“I guess not.”

A second man steps into view. Dylan Hunt. I recognize him from the research I did on the Hunt brothers. Tucker and Dylan are twins, though not identical. Dylan is the younger out of the two, the youngest of all five of the brothers. Their adopted sister, Lani, a doctor, is the youngest of them all.

“I see you brought travel companions,” I comment when I note the two dogs sitting at their feet. Tango I recognize, thanks to the small white dot near his long nose. The other, I’m assuming, is Delta. That is, if they stuck with the phonetic-alphabet naming convention.

“May we come in?” Tucker questions.

“Do you plan to kill or abduct me?” I ask.

“Would we tell you if we were going to?” Tucker retorts. “Doesn’t exactly seem like something we’d advertise.”

I smile. “Fair enough. I’m going to remain armed. I’m assuming you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Tucker turns to Dylan. “Do you mind?”

“Armed or not, it wouldn’t matter,” he says. The cold tone he uses is a direct contrast to the warmth Tucker gives off, but I still don’t believe either man would hurt me. Not at this point, anyway.

“Come on in.” I step aside, let them and their dogs in, then close and lock the door behind them, all while ensuring I don’t turn my back.

Then, I lean against the door as they turn to face me.

“How did you find me?”

“Your parents told us that you vacationed here as a kid,” Tucker replies. “Then while you were changing my wallpaper, I was able to make it through all of your VPN’s and narrow down the exact location as confirmation.”

“That was only a few hours ago. If you were in Texas, then you shouldn’t be here yet.”

“Who said we were in Texas?” Tucker questions.

“We’ve been here in California since late last night.

The next cabin over, actually.” He grins.

“Like I said, your parents gave us your location. I merely verified it when you hacked my computer. Great choice on the Thai food you ordered for dinner, by the way. We had some too, and it was delicious.”

“So you’ve been watching me.” It’s a bit of a hit to my pride that I didn’t notice it, but I remind myself this guy has a military background, and—well—it’s really not a surprise that I didn’t see him coming. Isn’t that what Special Forces do? Remain in the shadows until they’re ready to be seen?

“Had to know what you were up to,” Tucker replies. “So now that I’m here, are you planning to keep your end of the bargain or not?” He crosses his muscled arms, and my gaze momentarily drops. It’s only a second—less than, even—but given the smirk on his handsome face, he noticed.

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“I guess you don’t. But the fact that we didn’t bring Web Safe or police crawling all over this place should be proof enough that we’re not here to hurt you.” It’s Dylan who responds this time, and his tone is on the total opposite end of the spectrum compared to Tucker.

Whereas Tucker’s tone is challenging in an amusing kind of way, Dylan’s is a dare. As though he’s just waiting for me to step out of line. Intriguing. Two twins, totally different personalities.

I’ve already decided to trust Tucker, so what’s one more Hunt brother? “Good point. Okay, but buckle up, boys, because it’s one heck of a ride.”